Blair faces presidency rap from Parliament

Tony Blair is expected to face criticism of the UK’s presidency of the EU when he appears before MEPs next Wednesday (26 October).

European Voice

10/19/05, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 12:01 PM CET

Blair was widely praised on his last appearance before the Parliament in June, but will come under fire from his political opponents over his government's failure to make progress on the 2007-13 EU budget and the stalled EU constitution. Austrian MEP Othmar Karas, deputy leader of the centre-right EPP-ED group, asked: "Where is the UK proposal on how to design the reflection phase for the future of the constitution? Where is the presidency's contribution to the financial perspective?"

Timothy Kirkhope, leader of the 27-strong British Tory delegation, said: "MEPs from across the EU are very disappointed with Britain's presidency to date."

Blair's speech is expected to focus on the informal summit of EU leaders which will meet at Hampton Court the following day.

Charlie McCreevy, the internal market commissioner, will appear before MEPs next Tuesday (25 October) to explain his comments on the Swedish social model.

At their last plenary session on 12 October MEPs voted to summon Commission President José Manuel Barroso to take part in this debate as well.